Police Officer Involved Domestic Violence.
Lighting a candle of remembrance for those who've lost their lives to domestic violence behind the blue wall, for strength and wisdom to those still there, and a non-ending prayer for those who thought they had escaped but can't stop being afraid.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

[ME] Stacey Savoy murdered a day after she told her husband she wants a divorce

...Police say Bruce Savoy, a former officer in Old Orchard Beach and Wells who continued to serve as a reserve officer, shot his wife of more than 20 years with his service weapon, a Glock .40-caliber pistol. He then shot himself. Stacey Savoy [a Unum executive] had told her husband Sunday that she planned to get a divorce... Police said they found a handgun by the bodies in the kitchen and three suicide notes by Bruce Savoy, who cited the pending breakup of his marriage...

OH MY GOODNESS THESE FIRST ARTICLES WERE JUST BURSTING WITH ACCOLADES FOR BRUCE SAVOY. FORGIVE ME FOR NOT INCLUDING THOSE IN MY EXCERPTS, BUT THE LINKS TO GO READ THEM YOURSELF ARE HERE. RIGHT NOW I JUST WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CRUSHED, STOLEN, SQUELCHED LIFE OF STACEY - SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES - WHO WANTED TO LEAVE ALIVE. MAYBE SHE WANTED TO BE HAPPY, OR FREE, OR RECLAIM PARTS OF HERSELF THAT WERE HER ESSENCE. I WANT TO KNOW.

..."It's such a tragedy. I just can't even express words. She was just a lovely, sweet, beautiful girl, pretty as a picture"...

...[Friend Sonia] Gardner, a former town councilor, said she ... had not seen Stacey Savoy “for a while.”...

...She was assistant vice president of compensation for the disability insurer, based in Tennessee and Portland. She had been with the company for 28 years...

DEATHS OF MAINE COP, WIFE WERE MURDER-SUICIDE
Portland Press Herald
By David Hench
November 18, 2009
[Excerpts] OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine — Authorities say the shooting deaths of a former police officer and his wife, a Unum executive, appear to be a murder-suicide. Maine State Police believe that Bruce Savoy, 55, fatally shot his wife, Stacey Savoy, 50, on Monday afternoon as she returned home from the grocery store, then shot himself. They say he was distraught over the breakup of their marriage of more than 20 years. Police say they found three suicide notes that Bruce Savoy had written, and a handgun alongside the bodies. The Savoys' bodies were discovered by a friend who went to their home Tuesday morning to walk their dogs, Samson and River. The couple and their German shepherds were active in Maine Search and Rescue Dogs; Stacey Savoy was the group's secretary. "I was just shocked," said Sandra Chretien, a neighbor who knew the couple well and had known Stacey Savoy since she was an infant. "She was very, very quiet and smart. Just a lovely girl... They were kind of private"... She was assistant vice president of compensation for the disability insurer, based in Tennessee and Portland. She had been with the company for 28 years... The Savoys were devoted to their dogs, said neighbors, who often saw them walking the German shepherds... The dogs were in the home when the bodies were found, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the state police. A friend of the Savoys took the dogs, which were unharmed, and is taking care of them.At the Savoys' home on Pleasant Street, the yard was well-kept Tuesday and the porch was adorned with pumpkins, cornstalks and hanging baskets of impatiens still in bloom. Two immaculate vehicles, a GMC Yukon and a Chevrolet Express van, were parked in the driveway, both bearing the licence plates ''FIND-EM,'' one a commercial plate and the other a combination plate. The Maine Search and Rescue Dog emblem was on the side of the van. The couple traveled around the state participating in searches for lost children, elderly people and others... [Full article here]

..."OH MY GOD, YA KNOW. PLEASE! THIS IS NOT A NICE GUY. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE NEIGHBORS HAD TO SAY. AND I DIDN'T KNOW HIM AT ALL. AND HE MAY HAVE LOVED ANIMALS. BUT YA KNOW, HE KILLED HIS WIFE"...
Lois Galgay Reckitt
Executive Director of Family Crisis Services in Cumberland and Sagadahoc Countieswww.familycrisis.org/

STACEY E. SAVOY
Published in the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram
11/20/2009
[Excerpts] Stacey E. Savoy, 50 OLD ORCHARD BEACH -- Stacey E. Savoy, 50, of Pleasant Street, in Old Orchard Beach died at her residence later Monday evening. She was born in Biddeford, June 5, 1959, the daughter of Louis and Virginia Day Simpson. Stacey attended and graduated from Old Orchard Beach High School in 1977. While in high school she enjoyed riding horses and received many blue ribbon awards was including the New Hampshire Junior Champion. She was a member of the Hollis Center Baptist Church. Mrs. Savoy was approaching her 29th year with UNUM and was presently an Assistant Vice President of Compensation. Her true love was her family and her dogs and in 2003 she joined the York County Emergency Response Team. Stacey later joined Mesard in 2005 and became their Secretary in 2006. Her dog Sampson is trained as a Wilderness Scent Certified dog and was also being currently trained as a trailing dog. Mrs. Savoy is survived by... Memorial donations may be made in her memory to: The Hollis Center Baptist Church P.O. Box 180 Hollis Center, Maine 04042 or to Mesard Care of Jim Bridges 14 Pasture Way Brunswick, Maine 04011 [Full obituary here]

LINK: Stacey E. Savoy Guest Book- "I grew up in OOB and knew Stacey. I also worked with her for 6 years at UNUM. What a beautiful person."

Every homicide is sad," [Maine State Police Spokesman Steve] McCausland said, "but this is troubling because of all that has been done in recent years, particularly with law enforcement, to address the problem of domestic violence...

POLICE INVESTIGATE OOB DEATHS AS MURDER-SUICIDE
Husband, Wife Found Dead In Home
wmtw.com
POSTED: 1:09 pm EST November 17, 2009
UPDATED: 6:41 am EST November 18, 2009
[Excerpts] State and Old Orchard Beach police are investigating the deaths of a husband and wife as a murder-suicide.Police said a neighbor who walks the couple's two dogs discovered the bodies of Bruce Savoy, 55, and Stacey Savoy, 50, in the couple's home at 19A Pleasant St. at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday... Police said they found a handgun by the bodies in the kitchen and three suicide notes that police said were written by Bruce Savoy, who cited the pending breakup of his marriage. The couple would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in January. They grew up in Old Orchard Beach and had no children. Neighbors expressed shock, saying the Savoys were well known for being active with the state's search and rescue dog team... "It's such a tragedy. I just can't even express words. She was just a lovely, sweet, beautiful girl, pretty as a picture," said Sandra Chretien, a neighbor... Stacey Savoy was a vice president for the insurance company Unum. Unum spokeswoman Mary Fortune released a statement Tuesday evening, saying, "We were saddened to learn today of the unexpected and tragic death of Stacey Savoy, assistant vice president of compensation. Stacey had been with Unum for 28 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stacey's family on this very sad day." [Full article here]

Here's someone who could use some updating on the numbers of officer-involved domestic violence murders:

..."Another disturbing element of Monday's killing is that police say it was perpetrated by a peace officer. "I think that it's unacceptable, but it's not unheard of, that a police officer would be an abuser," said [Caring Unlimited Spokeswoman Emily] Flowers...

COUPLE FOUND DEAD IN HOME
inthecourier
By Gillian Graham
11/19/2009
[Excerpts] State Police said an Old Orchard Beach man who killed his wife before committing suicide was upset over the pending breakup of their marriage... Bruce Savoy, 55, was the assistant code enforcement officer in Wells and previously worked for the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, according to police. McCausland said Stacey Savoy, 50, worked as a vice president at Unum. They did not have children and a family friend is caring for their dogs, he said... Fire Chief John Glass confirmed Bruce Savoy was a volunteer firefighter off and on until about two years ago... [Friend Sonia] Gardner, a former town councilor, said she has known Bruce Savoy and his family for years. She said the Savoy family is “one of the best families in Old Orchard Beach.” Bruce Savoy often stopped by to talk local politics and was a mentor to her grandson, she said. She had not seen Stacey Savoy “for a while.”... [Full article here]

AGENCIES: NOBODY IS IMMUNE FROM ABUSEVictim advocates reflect on an Old Orchard woman's death at the hands of her husband, a former police officer.
The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram
By DAVID HENCH
ARTICLE COMMENTS HERE
November 19, 2009
[Excerpts] The death of Stacey Savoy, an insurance executive, at the hands of her husband, a former police officer, shows that domestic violence can strike anywhere, advocates for abuse victims said Wednesday. They also said the case underscores the serious danger people can face at the point when they decide to leave a relationship. Police say Bruce Savoy, a former officer in Old Orchard Beach and Wells who continued to serve as a reserve officer, shot his wife of more than 20 years with his service weapon, a Glock .40-caliber pistol. He then shot himself. Stacey Savoy had told her husband Sunday that she planned to get a divorce... On Wednesday, her family and friends grieved the loss of a beloved woman, someone who was generous without seeking recognition and deeply committed to her work with the Maine Search and Rescue Dogs organization... Savoy was an executive with Unum who traveled often for her job. She also was involved in search-and-rescue missions with her dog, Samson... Although neighbors didn't suspect abuse, they said they seldom saw Stacey Savoy outside the house. Lois Galgay Reckitt, executive director of Family Crisis Services in Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties, said domestic violence homicide is the ultimate form of abuse, and it is most common when a victim is leaving a relationship... "This woman may not have known she should have one. I think anyone who wants to get a divorce needs to think carefully about how they do that." Another disturbing element of Monday's killing is that police say it was perpetrated by a peace officer. "I think that it's unacceptable, but it's not unheard of, that a police officer would be an abuser," said Flowers. Steve McCausland, spokesman for the state police, said the last time a police officer was involved in a domestic violence homicide was 1998, when a part-time deputy with the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office shot and killed his wife in South Paris, then killed himself. "Every homicide is sad," McCausland said, "but this is troubling because of all that has been done in recent years, particularly with law enforcement, to address the problem of domestic violence... [Full article here]

NEW DETAILS: OLD ORCHARD BEACH MURDER-SUICIDEWGME NEWS 13
[Excerpt] ...The autopsies confirm that Bruce shot Stacey several times and then killed himself. The shootings happened Monday night at their home in Old Orchard Beach... [Full article here]

THAT ARTICLE DOES NOT MENTION ANY OF THE INFORMATION IN IT'S ACCOMPANYING VIDEO, SO I TRANSCRIBED PARTS OF IT:

...WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS WEEK'S MURDER-SUCIDE IN OLD ORCHARD BEACH. NEIGHBORS YESTERDAY DESCRIBED THE KILLER, BRUCE SAVOY, AS A THOUGHTFUL, FRIENDLY VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE OFFICER. BUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF STACEY SAVOY WHO ARE GRIEVING HER LOSS TONIGHT SAY HE SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AS THE MAN WHO SHOT AND KILLED HIS WIFE.
BARKER REPORTS TONIGHT FROM OLD ORCHARD BEACH:

KAREN BROZEK: "I USED TO WORK AT UNUM, AND THAT'S HOW I MET STACEY. AND SHE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON AND YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT LIKE HER. SHE WAS ALWAYS GIVING - GIVING GIVING GIVING. AND SHE WAS JUST A SWEETHEART."

LOIS GALGAY RECKITT: "OH MY GOD, YA KNOW. PLEASE! THIS IS NOT A NICE GUY. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE NEIGHBORS HAD TO SAY. AND I DIDN'T KNOW HIM AT ALL. AND HE MAY HAVE LOVED ANIMALS. BUT YA KNOW, HE KILLED HIS WIFE."[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities murder maine state oob]

4 comments:

Beautiful website.Ya know, all the newspapers and TV stations quoted cops as saying the killer was "upset about the impending breakup of his marriage."Well, first of all, we don't know what was going on in that house.The killer got to write three - count them, three - so-called suicide notes.His victim didn't get the chance to tell her side of the story.Apparently the killer's notes intimated that hiw wife had asked for a divorce.Or maybe more to the point, she didn't ask. Maybe she simply told him, "I want a divorce and if we can't work it out I have to divorce you."Yeah, Savoy seemed to be a very nice man.But none of us lived with him for 20 years, as did his wife.Clearly he was possessed by demons.Yes, we all have some problems but Bruce Savoy pulled out a gun and killed two people.His wife had no choice.He did.-Ted CohenPortland Press Herald30 years reporter

I have lived with the death of my best friend for 2 years. Stacey and I met in Machias when she and Bruce moved here from Buxton/OOB area when they first married. Bruce was a fire fighter on the Navy Base in Cutler...Stacey worked with me at Shop and Save in Machias. We immediately became friends! We stayed in touch over the years...she was my matron of honor in my wedding and she held my children as babies and watched them grow! She became an "auntie" to my daughter...Olivia was just getting to the age where I could let her go to OOB and stay...the year Bruce took Stacey from us we had talked about Olivia coming that next summer and staying with them and working in the area! I am still angry with Bruce for taking such a great person away from all of us! I am saddened to think Bruce couldn't talk with someone who could help him through his frame of mind! Bruce and I had our ups and downs throughout Stacey's and my friendship...there were times I was petrified of him and times when I loved him unconditionally. Just as Stacey had for almost 30 years! For him to pull the trigger...I am still in shock! I keep asking...why??? How could you??? Even though Stacey had come to the end of her rope...and told him she was leaving...I have no doubt she still loved him...she just couldn't do it any more! The 2 year anniversary is coming up for their deaths...I miss my best friend and I miss Bruce...not the Bruce that pulled the trigger, not the Bruce I was scared of...but the Bruce I caught a glimpse of when he was Olivia's "uncle" and if you think it's hard for us...just think how Olivia felt when I had to tell her that Bruce had shot and killed Stacey...she had only seen Bruce in his "loving uncle" mode. I hope Bruce knows how many people he "let down" when he pulled that trigger! I hope he was made accountable for his decision to take two lives that day...one, of his own choice and one, that shouldn't have ever been his choice! Stacey we miss you terribly and love you!! Bruce we miss the "uncle Bruce" but we live with our anger of knowing you took two people from us we loved! We live with the sadness of this decision you made... knowing you needed help and didn't get it from the right people...I wish we didn't have to live with this...I wish...wishes came true!

Stacey joined MESARD in 2005 and had served as the team Secretary since 2006. She and her K9 Samson were a certified wilderness airscent team. She was a dedicated and enthusiastic teammate, who led by example in all that she did. We miss her smile, hugs, laughter, friendship and uplifting support. We cherish the memories of the time that we shared and will always carry her in our hearts.